FREDDIE HINEY
On exterior, South Africa exudes beauty; its interior, however, includes integral cracks, harming a promising nation.
Plagued by crime, unemployment and treacherous living conditions, there’s plenty to blame regarding the country’s in-house demolition –but that hasn’t stopped a record number of tourists from visiting.
The South African Government News Agency says 8.5 million international tourists entered the country last year, nearly 50% higher than 2022’s count. A further 6.4 million visitors entered from other African countries, increasing the total to 14.9 million.
The figure is forecast to rise this year. It’s hard to argue that the recent pandemic doesn’t elevate the statistics, as 2022 marked the first year free from isolation, a time when many, scarred from recent events, weren’t willing to travel. But comparing it to the pre-Covid days, namely 2018, which entailed 10.37 million tourists, it’s clear our nation is experiencing growing popularity (and fast).
A similar pattern applies to crime.
After 2022/23, the country’s per capita murder rate was the highest in 20 years at 45 per 100 000 – a 50% jump from a decade ago. On average, according to the SAPS, 84 people are murdered every day.
An underlying yin and yang tone reverberates through the country – a balance between its charm and its challenges, between what there is to love and what there is to hate.
Whether you live in Cape Town, Johannesburg or the Garden Route, from urban to rural, the presence of foreigners was felt during the summer months, for better or worse. Suddenly, a drive to work, which lasted 20 minutes, took 40.
But, for the sake of independent businesses, street sellers and the overall economy, it’s worth it.
The phrase “seasonal” hits true to many entrepreneurs and businesses around South Africa – often banking it in the summer and hibernating in the winter, recording a fraction of the sales than they experienced during the warmer months.
Without waves of tourists, many industries would perish, and our weakened economy would be comparable to Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing seasonal about our crime statistics; all year round, it continues, from gender-based violence to robbery and murder.
Along with being labelled the “Rape Capital of the World” by the international criminal police organisation, Interpol, South Africa experienced approximately 238 000 home robberies between March 2022 and March last year. That’s 652 a day.
Combine this with the fact that, on average, 65 vehicles are stolen every day – 5 937 hijackings occurred from October to December last year – and it’s easy to identify that this beautiful country has an ugly truth: crime is everywhere.
Many blame unemployment and a lack of social housing; around 19.7 million citizens are without jobs, and unlike First World countries such as England and Australia, which provide monthly unemployment grants of around R8 500, South Africans receive R350 (95.88% less).
How can anyone support themselves, let alone a family, on R87.50 a week? They can’t. And here lies the smoking gun – the definitive proof of a failing system that perpetuates poverty and drives desperate people toward crime.
Then there’s the realisation that in the 21st century – a wannabe utopian time where cars are becoming driverless (some even fly), and houses are being built by 3D printers – more than 11.6 million South Africans, nearly 20% of the population, live in townships, confined by ageing roof sheets held down by rocks that counteract neither the heat nor the cold.
And you often ask yourself, ‘How can people live like this?’ They can’t, but it’s all they have.
However, like a Hollywood love story, among the chaos, there’s promise. Cape Town, a contemporary city renowned for its art, culture and stunning scenery – the same attractions as New York, Tokyo and London – resembles some of the world’s greatest cities.
Yes, Paris might have the Eiffel Tower and Barcelona boasts the Gothic Quarter, but have you seen Table Mountain? What about Blyde River Canyon or Chapman’s Peak at sunset?
Then you can attest that we’ve got what many countries dream of: an abundance of natural wonder.
Unique and vibrant, the Mother City intertwines among seemingly endless mountain ranges where vineyards thrive and the ocean is never far away, a dreamland for visitors.
Johannesburg is also experiencing a much-needed revitalisation. Brimming with its own edgy and vibrant creativity, there’s a heady mix of internationally acclaimed jazz and street music, opulent restaurants, world-renowned galleries and a living recent history of rebellion and reconciliation that transfixed the world.
Such areas include the Maboneng Precinct, a once-dilapidated neighbourhood that has been uplifted into a high-end district of galleries, eateries and shops, and Victoria Yards, a former steam laundry warehouse used to wash hospital sheets now home to artisans, artists and feel-good philanthropy.
Many argue that transforming rundown, crime-ridden precincts into boutique centres benefit only the rich, but does it? Yes, the rich become richer (an inevitable outcome in today’s world), but this also means more jobs. And as these areas become populated, the likelihood of crime reduces, rejuvenating once-lonely, vulnerable streets into lively social hubs filled with laughter, smiles and joy.
The effect is evident during Cape Town’s First Thursdays, when attendees, usually in the thousands, freely explore the CBD at night, feeling secure with the presence of people around them.
Within our cities are a plethora of establishments that would belong on any high street in the world, whether it’s in London, New York or Madrid; however, they record a fraction of the crimes we do.
I’m not saying the capital cities are without problems; knife attacks are rising in London, but the numbers don’t lie; we’ve got bigger fish to fry.
Widely renowned as a sleeping giant, Africa has long been a hot spot for international investment – out of the 20 fastest-growing economies in the world, nine are here. That suggests an influx in money, but it hasn’t resulted in a crackdown on crime, which, again, makes you think: ‘Where are these billions of rand going?’ The Eastern Cape’s roads certainly aren’t getting any better.
Yet, to our dismay, tens of millions of tourists annually flood South Africa’s streets, beaches and safaris. Can you blame them? Absolutely not.
Along with world-class First World delights, it’s littered with postcard-worthy settings, from Table Mountain and the Drakensberg to the Orange River and Tsitsikamma National Park.
It’s a country the Big Five happily call home and white sand beaches separate promenades from translucent, turquoise water reminiscent of the Caribbean. It’s a place where mountain ranges traverse mesmerising terrain, hosting waterfalls, wildlife, forests and unfathomable views. There’s nowhere else like it – but the crime must stop.
* Hiney has written for global publications and is the co-author of “The NFT Yearbook”, set to be published later this year.
Cape Times